Every day we meet with homeowners, builders and realtors who want to know about staging- How it works, Why it works, Will it work… So, we thought we’d take it back to the beginning and talk a little bit about why staging adds value, how we approach the process, and why we think Sunflower Creations is successful at helping get homes sold all over Philadelphia and surrounding neighborhoods. If you are considering staging, – please read on. If you are already a believer, you can skip the boring text and just look at the pretty pictures!

So, Question #1: Why would you stage your home prior to listing it for sale? Basically, either because the property is vacant, or because you actually live in your home and everything isn’t perfect at all times. We will talk more about occupied staging in our next post, but today we’re going to focus on vacant home staging.

It all begins with the click of a link… It doesn’t matter if you are listing your family home, a rental property, or a new build- the fundamental process is the same- the more interest you generate, the more traffic you get to the listing. The more traffic you get, the greater the potential for more offers. And the more offers you get, the more you- the seller- are in control of the deal. Since we have the internet, most prospective buyers will be introduced to your home, along with about 400 other homes that meet their search criteria, by being presented with a thumbnail photo that will appear approximately 1*1 inches on a phone screen. Make the most of that inch. A photo of walls is pretty easy to skip. A photo with colors and shapes might grab a viewer’s attention for just a second longer, and that second could be the difference between a showing and a pass. (Small aside- whether you hire a professional stager or do it yourself, hire a professional photographer. Again, the picture is going to dictate how the story goes- make it a really good picture).

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2. You didn’t do all the updates you intended... So, maybe you never got around to installing stone counter tops in the kitchen, or perhaps you ran out of time before you had a chance to remodel the closets, or maybe the original hardwood floors could have used a sanding but … It’s time to list- it is what it is- and you are pricing the property appropriately. Staging is a good idea for you. We do not stage to cover up problems- what we do is create a aesthetic that feels fresh and welcoming. We help prospective buyers see the full potential of the home by highlighting the best parts. A side effect of that is focus less on every scratch in the floor or chip in the paint. We make prospective buyers say, “This house feels like home to us. All it needs is (a coat of paint) (a sanding of the floors) (a bathroom update), but it’s totally move-in ready”.

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3. The home is brand new construction… It’s literally perfect, but you should stage it… Here’s a couple things about new construction (a) It can feel very sterile because everything is new, and that is not inviting. Even just a light staging provides the opportunity to bring in some softness and variety of texture. (b) Much of the competition is staged, so you need to stay competitive. Again- it’s not just about having a great property; It’s about getting prospective buyers to notice it. (c) Architects and builders have the ability to visualize the finished product, which is what makes them good at their jobs. Most homebuyers do not have that ability. And open-concept floorplans are especially difficult. If potential buyers can not envision how to live in the space, they will move on to the next listing.

So, Thanks for stopping by today!

We hope you found this information helpful- and feel free to pass it along to your friends or clients.

For vacant home staging, a consult 2-3 week’s prior to intended completion date is ideal. And in the case of occupied home staging, the more time we have prior to listing, the more we can help you perfect your product.

Here’s a little before and after action from a property we staged a few months back. This is one of my personal favorites from last year because it is the poster child for the power of staging. We’ve got an adorable house, priced right, on a nice street- and several months went by with no offers.

The sellers called us for a consult, had it staged on a Friday- and chose from 3 good offers on the following Monday. They settled at 10% over asking price!

Enter through the front door into your charming, sun-drenched enclosed porch… We replaced the dark curtains with shears, added a couple of area rugs, and a few pieces of furniture to create a first impression that sets a positive tone- and a functional space that is more than just a pass-thru area.

Those white sheers make SUCH a difference.

Next, we have a nice size living room with exposed brick, mantel, and built-ins.

Cute right? But where does the sofa go?

Now, I think the next space is the most confusing for prospective buyers. The large support beam kind of divides the dining room into 2 separate areas, and I think people were just really unsure about how they’d be able to make the space work.

We created an additional hang-out area that bridges the space between the living room and the dining area. Maybe drinks? Maybe a place to sit away from the TV?

And finally, the kitchen is a very bold color and featured patterned window treatments. We just replaced the valence panels with sheers, which have a more contemporary vibe.

If you are preparing to list, or if you have clients who are preparing to list, get us involved!

For vacant home staging, a consult 2-3 week’s prior to intended completion date is ideal. And in the case of occupied home staging, the more time we have prior to listing, the more we can help you perfect your product.

Here’s a sweet spot in South Philly. East Passyunk is such a phenomenal neighborhood if you are into eating, shopping, leaving your house:)… And this home would be phenomenal even if you didn’t feel like going anywhere! It’s compact, but functional- and our client did a great job of opening up the space through his selection of finishes:

There’s tons of exposed brick that carries through to the 2nd floor.

Of course, the open floorplan makes the space feel airy. So does the bright white on the walls. Also, the high-hung light fixture keeps things fluid.

If you are preparing to list, or if you have clients who are preparing to list, lets discuss! For vacant home staging, a consult 2-3 week’s prior to intended completion date is ideal. And in the case of occupied home staging, the more time we have prior to listing, the more we can help you perfect your product.

Contact Ali at akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com or 267.207.9898 to get that ball rolling. Or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home.

Who doesn’t love an industrial space that’s been converted to a residence? Surely there must be someone out there, but ya ain’t gonna find them in this blog post…

Here’s some pics from a late 2017 staging at Old City’s River Church Condominiums.

We’ve worked in this building a few times over the years, and these units always excite me because each one is just so unique. The developer left so many of the original features intact, and really created a living space to fit the existing layout. I think that is really cool!

This unit’s entry level includes an entry hall/full bath, and this loft bedroom space.

If you look over the railing, you can see down to the lower level living space- open layout Living/Dining/Kitchen.

Downstairs is this amazing unexpected living space! Some say small, but we say SO cozy! And look… there’s a place for everything!

Beautiful modern kitchen with a nice amount of workspace…

Not sure what these alcoves were originally, but we love having them! This one is where we keep the booze:)

If you are preparing to list, or if you have clients who are preparing to list, hit us up! For vacant home staging, a consult 2-3 week’s prior to intended completion date is ideal. And in the case of occupied home staging, the more time we have prior to listing, the more we can help you perfect your product.

Happy 2018! We really hope it was a safe, peaceful and happy holiday season for you all. And, we also hope you are easing back into the work realm with smiles and grace!

We are rested and back at it- because Philadelphia is busting with new homes, improved homes, and sellers on the move.

If you are preparing to list, or if you have clients who are preparing to list, calling us should be on your to-do list. For vacant home staging, a consult 2-3 week’s prior to intended completion date is ideal. And in the case of occupied home staging, the more time we have prior to listing, the more we can help you perfect your product. So, contact Ali at akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com or 267.207.9898 to get that ball rolling.

Here’s some staging pics from a rehabbed property in Germantown- staged and sold in 2017.

We were expecting a young family would be the lucky buyers for this 4 bedroom gut rehab in the artsy and eclectic Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. So, we wanted to use some contemporary and colorful pieces that would feel fun and familiar to a younger market of buyers. You’ll see some vintage charm, a little global flare and some kitsch mixed in for good measure…

No offense to all other houses, but this one takes the prize for awesome-

Standing on the street in Northern Liberties, one would never know that behind an inconspicuous industrial garage door lies this incredible, self-contained residential oasis.

This courtyard/Zen Garden is the absolute perfect place to relax and enjoy the meditative sights and sounds of the water feature and Koi pond.

And here are a few aerial shots of the interior, just to give you a sense of the whole space:

Just an FYI tidbit- the TV room floor is the original cobblestone from when this land was a cross street. And, that plexi-glass panel in the ground is encasing a well that was excavated during the renovation. You can still see water levels rise and fall.

So, we were called in a couple of years ago when the homeowners first began thinking about selling. Through a series of walk-thrus, revisions, and fine tuning, we were able to help these homeowners get this property in prime shape for listing. And, once listed, the sellers got their asking price in less than 3 weeks- which I really can’t say is a surprise… The place is amazing, and they really followed our staging advise to the letter.

This is a great example of how a staging consultation can help you sell your home. In this case, the majority of the furniture belongs to the homeowners.

We provided recommendations on pieces that worked well for staging, and items that needed to be toned down, amped up, or adjusted. We also provided supplementary art/accessories where needed. This enabled the home owners to move the vast majority of their belongings out of the home prior to listing, which made their move more orderly in the long-run.

We assisted the homeowners by providing a neutral eye. This, in turn, helped them showcase all the right features. Clearly, they had a good sense of design because they created the space. But it’s often helpful to get an outside perspective to help see a home through the eyes of the prospective buyer. In this case, the space, itself, is really the focal point. The prospective buyer is clearly going to need to fall in love with the space, or not get it at all. It’s just that kind of home. So, we did a lot of editing. We wanted the property to really be the main event here- and everything else was kind of just dressing to show function and warmth. The key was finding the right balance.

In “His” office, we spent a great deal of time on simplifying the built-in shelves that were packed with books and collectibles. The owners were really great about following our recommendations.

And, we helped create a “Her” office/studio space out of what had previously been used as a bike room. We provided area rugs, furnishings and art where needed– but the large majority of the items were already there for us. Just a matter of moving some things around…

In the rear portion of the home, we made a few layout adjustments in order to maximize use of the space, and in order to differentiate the spaces from the other sitting/eating areas in the front of the home. Notice the very clean-lined and simple styling of the décor- This property needs so little in terms of “frills”.

And finally, this common area that connects the three 2nd floor bedrooms- The homeowners had previously used this as gallery space for their art collection. We wanted to make it function in a way that would feel at home to any prospective buyer. So we created this relaxation area to feel like a really cozy place where you can drink your coffee on a Sunday morning, or cuddle up with a book late at night

Sunflower Creations is The Philly Home Stager because we are dedicated to:
Providing quick, reliable and professional service
Creating fabulous looking homes at competitive prices
Helping to sell your home quickly and profitably
Making every project our number one priority

We’d Love to Work With You On Your Next Project:
Vacant Home Staging and Furniture, Art, Accessories Rental
Occupied Home Staging Consultations
and more…

For a complimentary consultation, please contact
Ali Kutner, Home Staging Coordinator
267.207.9298
akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com
or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home

Here’s a look at a lovely updated colonial that we staged out in Chester County. It was a nice treat to spend the day among the trees and the birds, while staging this beautiful home that sold in less than 20 days:)

For this project, we wanted to craft a look that felt luxurious but also warm and comfortable. Suburban style tends to be a more transitional look than a city space- contemporary with some more traditional elements.

…Study with lots of layers of neutrals and lush area rug…

The great room features lots of seating- All of the light colors on the interior really help to highlight the beauty of the greenery right outside.

Dining Room with large glass table and contemporary dining chairs- Again, look at that pretty view!

Kitchen- really needs no description- just look at it…

Family Room, located right off the kitchen is an ideal space for hanging out and watching TV.

Click here to view other suburban home staging projects from our archives.

Thanks for looking!
Sunflower Creations is The Philly Home Stager because we are dedicated to:
Providing quick, reliable and professional service
Creating fabulous looking homes at competitive prices
Helping to sell your home quickly and profitably
Making every project our number one priority
We’d Love to Work With You On Your Next Project:
Vacant Home Staging and Furniture, Art, Accessories Rental
Occupied Home Staging Consultations
and more…
For a complimentary consultation, please contact
Ali Kutner, Home Staging Coordinator
267.207.9298
akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com
or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home
…Home Staging in 19128, 19127, 19119, 19118, 19130, 19121, 19123, 19125, 19134, 19103, 19102, 19104, 19106, 19107, 19146, 19147, 19139, 19143, 19145, 19148, 19004, 19003, 19035, and all Philadelphia and Surrounding Suburbs.

Hey All! The Staging Coordinator Chic here– signing on from this gi-normous new construction property in South Philly. For this project, we went with a very neutral color palette of black, white and shades of grey/beige- proving that neutral doesn’t have to be boring…

Example: You can still shake things up with a bold pattern…

…Or grab some attention with even some very subtle color insertion.

You can create crisp, clean. linear silhouettes that are very pleasing to the eye…

…And you can create a sense of order that allows the focus to drift to the important things- like massive quartz counter tops!

Sunflower Creations is The Philly Home Stager because we are dedicated to:
Providing quick, reliable and professional service
Creating fabulous looking homes at competitive prices
Helping to sell your home quickly and profitably
Making every project our number one priority
We’d Love to Work With You On Your Next Project:
Vacant Home Staging and Furniture, Art, Accessories Rental
Occupied Home Staging Consultations
and more…
For a free consultation, please contact
Ali Kutner, Home Staging Coordinator
267.207.9298
akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com
or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home
…Home Staging in 19128, 19127, 19119, 19118, 19130, 19121, 19123, 19125, 19134, 19103, 19102, 19104, 19106, 19107, 19146, 19147, 19139, 19143, 19145, 19148, 19004, 19003, 19035, and all Philadelphia and Surrounding Suburbs.

You know your from Philly if you live in a Point Breeze row home (it’s not a townhouse), and you know you live in a Point Breeze row home if you recognize this layout!

19xx Wilder St

We work all over the city and surrounding ‘burbs, but year after year, Point Breeze is where it’s at for stagers. Developers are just constantly rehabbing homes and often, entire blocks go under construction at once. As neighborhoods improve, we find ourselves going further and further south.

Here’s a quick hit of 4 Point Breeze rehabs we’ve staged in the last month or so. The layout is generally pretty straightforward- but there is a wide variety of play in finish selections. Style is normally contemporary to modern industrial- aimed at the young professional, often first time-home buyer.

14xx S. 24th St

20xx McClellan St

Thanks so much for looking!
Sunflower Creations is The Philly Home Stager because we are dedicated to:
Providing quick, reliable and professional service
Creating fabulous looking homes at competitive prices
Helping to sell your home quickly and profitably
Making every project our number one priority
We’d Love to Work With You On Your Next Project:
Vacant Home Staging and Furniture, Art, Accessories Rental
Occupied Home Staging Consultations
and more…
For a free consultation, please contact
Ali Kutner, Home Staging Coordinator
267.207.9298
akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com
or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home
…Home Staging in 19128, 19127, 19119, 19118, 19130, 19121, 19123, 19125, 19134, 19103, 19102, 19104, 19106, 19107, 19146, 19147, 19139, 19143, 19145, 19148, 19004, 19003, 19035, and all Philadelphia and Surrounding Suburbs.

Sunflower Creations, Philadelphia– Coming at you from 2601 Parkway Condominiums– this renovated unit had me at hello- The contemporary finishes are so crisp and clean and beautiful. We wanted the staging to reflect that. We went with a mono-chromatic color scheme, with just a few sharp and intentional color surprises.

Let us know what you think- And, thanks for looking!

Open-Concept Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen

…There’s a Bonus Room off the Living Room..

…Small but more than adequate dining area leaves room for a large kitchen island, and…

Sunflower Creations is The Philly Home Stager because we are dedicated to:
Providing quick, reliable and professional service
Creating fabulous looking homes at competitive prices
Helping to sell your home quickly and profitably
Making every project our number one priority

We’d Love to Work With You On Your Next Project:
Vacant Home Staging and Furniture, Art, Accessories Rental
Occupied Home Staging Consultations
and more…

For a free consultation, please contact
Ali Kutner, Home Staging Coordinator
267.207.9298
akutner@sunflowercreationsonline.com
or visit us at Sunflower Creations Home